2014fwc_tsg_report_15082014_neutral

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Technical and tactical analysis
TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL ANALYSIS
The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil was
marked by top quality and attacking football,
excellent players and a positive general
football philosophy. The teams’ objectives
were to score and win matches instead of
trying not to lose or concede. This led to a glut
of goals, 171 in total at an impressive average
of 2.67 goals per match, which matched the
record set in France in 1998.
Praise has to be given to the coaches and
players who contributed first and foremost to
this outstanding competition.
The World Cup also witnessed the rise and
development of countries such as Costa Rica
and Algeria, who successfully and efficiently
challenged the more established teams.
Speed, tempo and power football has never
been so high. Many matches were end-to-end
affairs, and a lot of games were not decided
until the very end. Often little details made all
the difference between winning and losing.
The most successful teams had key players in
all areas who had a major influence with their
play, work rate, personality and outstanding
performances.
Moreover, this World Cup was an extremely
balanced affair. Eight of the 16 matches in
the second stage went to extra time, and
four all the way to a penalty shoot-out. This
underlines how close the teams are together
as well as the good development work being
done by the member associations.
Shapes
The overriding tactic was to use the players
in the position in which they could give their
best for the team. Organisation was one of
the keys to success. However, teams tended
to use flexible systems rather than static
formations, with players assuming different
positions but also sticking to their role when
the match situation required it. The players
were thereby able to make the best use of
their talent.
The most successful teams were well
organised and had effective shapes, usually
with four at the back. However, systems with
three central defenders are on the rise again
(e.g. Chile, Netherlands, Uruguay, Mexico and
Costa Rica). Defenders showed that they were
comfortable on the ball and in one-versus-one
situations.
The best teams also played with one holding
player in front of the defence (instead of two
as seen at South Africa 2010) and forming a
defensive triangle with the central defenders.
Two wide midfielders assisted in both attack
and defence. Full-backs regularly pushed
forward, providing width in attack and
creating a number of crossing options.
Most teams played with two strikers (if not
three), and the few teams that played with
one lone attacker left the competition early.
Play was built up consistently from defence
through midfield to attack. Long balls to the
strikers were rarely used (and mostly only
when a team was tired or trailing with only
minutes to go).
Successful teams were not limited to just
one creative player, and instead they gave
responsibility to a number of players with a
view towards working as a unit but still with
creativity. Teamwork was essential, as were
key players who worked hard for the team,
such as Neymar (Brazil, 10), Messi (Argentina,
10), Robben (Netherlands, 11), Kroos
(Germany, 18) and Rodríguez (Colombia, 10)
who all made a difference and were able to
decide a game on their own.
Overall, it was vital that the team’s shape was
in line with an effective system of play.
System of play
Most teams’ build-up play was on the floor,
and long balls were often not successful.
Teams started games by pressing their
opponents aggressively in the first 15 minutes
before adopting a semi-high pressing concept
in midfield to create space for swift counterattacks
once back in possession to get behind
the opponent’s defence.
Screening midfielders often stayed back
to give the full-backs the opportunity to
push forward. In general, one of the strikers
dropped back into central midfield after
losing possession, and the backline of the
defending team did not drop less than
40 metres in front of their own goal. Teams
defended in a compact block in a high line
and overloaded the area where the ball was.
The central areas were mostly crowded as
the wingers dropped into the centre to close
down space after possession had been lost.
In terms of attacking play, the quality of